The magnificent room was bathed in bright light. Tall pillars carved with ancient symbols stood firm, supporting a crystal ceiling. In the center of the room, on a black throne adorned with silver carvings and glowing stones, sat a mysterious male figure. His form was towering, a cold aura enveloped him, and one of his eyes glowed with a faint red light. Beside him stood a large, solid black sword, pulsating softly as if breathing.
He slowly raised the sword, with a movement that seemed graceful yet terrifying. The tip of the sword touched the light from the ceiling, then—
...
Flashback: In the Cave of Death
The cave was vast, its walls adorned with thorns and fossilized bones. The roar of monsters and whispers of demons filled the air. Before the man, terrifying creatures stood in rows: horned, fanged demons with gigantic bodies and eyes glowing blood red. Their numbers were countless—millions. They stood, roaring, spewing hatred and rage at the one person before them.
But the man was not afraid. He stood alone, wearing a torn robe, his hair flowing in the damp cave wind. His right hand gripped the same great sword—the sword of darkness. His gaze was calm.
"...."
One demon shrieked, initiating the attack. Strange sounds echoing like roars and screams combined into a symphony of destruction. Thousands of creatures lunged towards him.
The man closed his eyes. Silence.
And suddenly—
His eyes opened. Red light exploded.
Immediately, his body shot forward. Flashes of black light sliced through the air. A slash. A slash. A slash.
Demons fell, their bodies cut with speed that could not be caught by the naked eye. Heads flew. Black blood gushed, filling the ground.
"Neghhhhhh-AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHH!!!"
The demon king's voice echoed, summoning his army, but it was too late.
The man appeared before him. One slash. The demon king's magic shield cracked. A second slash. His body armor shattered. A third slash—
The demon king's head split in two.
The ground shook. Screams of death filled the cave sky.
The man stood on a pile of corpses. A mountain of blackened
demon bodies. He plunged his sword into the top of the pile. Blood dripped from its tip.
"I... am so strong," he mumbled.
...
Back in the Throne Room
The figure was still sitting on the throne. But this time, his eyes slowly opened. He rose, his movements calm, dignified. The sound of his footsteps echoed between the pillars.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
He walked towards the balcony. The night wind greeted his face. From the balcony, a view of a peaceful city could be seen, lights illuminating the buildings. The sky was adorned with stars.
He took a deep breath.
Silence.
Suddenly, a soft voice broke the silence.
"Lord... Hunter God..."
A female servant appeared from the door. A small young girl in a classic maid uniform with a slightly nervous face. Her cheeks were flushed red.
"Why?" the man asked, his voice deep yet calm.
"U-Uhm... Sorry to disturb... I just wanted to ask... what would you like to eat tonight...?" she said, bowing her head in embarrassment.
The man turned. His sharp gaze made the girl freeze for a moment.
However, instead of anger or coldness, the man smiled faintly. He crouched down, adjusting his height to the maid. Then, with a gentle motion, he pinched the girl's cheek.
The maid blushed.
"Anything... as long as you cook it," he said softly, with a rare smile on his face.
"O-Okay...!" the servant replied, then immediately turned and ran into the house.
The figure stood again, gazing at the sky. But suddenly, his vision blurred. His head felt heavy. His eyes slowly closed.
"...Huh?"
His body lost balance.
THUD!
He fell.
Silence.
Who is he?
His name is Kael Nostern.
The Hunter God.
...
His eyelids fluttered. Slowly, he opened his eyes. His vision was blurry, his head throbbing. He felt his body... strange. Weak.
"Wake up! You weakling!"
THUD!
A blow landed on his shoulder. He flinched. Now he realized—he was in the corner of a cramped, cold stone room. Dim candlelight illuminated the room.
"Why are you hitting me...?" he mumbled softly, confused.
"How dare you defy your brother?!"
A teenage boy stood before him. Sharp eyes full of hatred, his right foot swung back—
THUD!
His small body bounced off the wall.
Kael—or whoever he was now—groaned. He raised his hand, looking at it. Small hand. Small arm. Delicate fingers.
"I... became small...?" he whispered.
The brother stepped forward again, his expression ferocious.
"You are indeed a disgrace to the family! Weak, cowardly! And now you're fighting back!"
Kael—who was now aware he was in another body—remained silent. A name popped into his mind.
"...Rael... Valtros...?"
He was now in the body of a six-year-old child. The child's name was Rael. And that sadistic man... was his brother.
THUD!
A kick landed on his stomach. Blood dripped from Rael's head where it hit the floor.
His brother laughed loudly.
"Hahahahaha! So weak yet you dare to look at me? Who do you think you are, Rael Valtros?"
Kael looked at his brother sharply. A gaze that would usually send demons fleeing in terror. But now... he was just a small child.
His brother hissed in disgust, then turned and walked away.
His footsteps echoed, then the room door closed.
Click.
Silence.
Rael—Kael—lay there, his breath heavy. Blood from his temple dripped onto the floor.
"Damn it..." he thought. "So this is... that child's body..."
He tried to get up, raising his hand. No aura. No power. No mana. He felt it...
"...This child's mana... is so small... almost nonexistent."
Kael—the Hunter God—had been reincarnated.
In the body of a child considered a disgrace by his family.
Silence...
Rael slowly stood up. Although his small body felt bruised, he forced himself to stand straight. He patted his shabby clothes, removing dust and dirt.
Step by step, he walked out of the cramped stone room. The light of crystal lamps greeted him as he stepped into the hallway of the large Valtros family mansion.
As soon as he arrived at the main dining room, his eyes immediately caught sight of the long dining table. At the end of the table sat a dignified man with silver-streaked black hair and sharp eyes—his father. Beside the man sat an elegant woman with long brown hair—his mother. And between them, with a look of satisfaction, sat his brother—Zoan Valtros.
However, none of them showed affection. His mother's gaze was cold and disgusted. His father didn't even glance his way. The atmosphere at the table seemed to reflect a world that rejected Rael's presence.
Rael just stood silently, looking at them.
Zoan smirked. His hand reached for a fork beside his plate.
Swiftly, he picked it up and prepared to throw it at Rael—
But his father's hand stopped him.
"Enough."
His voice was calm yet firm.
Zoan clicked his tongue, but lowered his hand.
Rael inwardly mumbled, "This family... is very pleasant, isn't it."
Their father looked at Zoan, not Rael.
"Zoan Valtros, you will start your first school at seven years old this year. So behave yourself. Don't act like this at school."
Rael in his mind, "Oh, so his name is... Zoan."
His mother shrugged lazily.
"Leave him be, Father. Let him do what he wants. That child is just a burden."
But the father looked at his wife for a moment then said again:
"Even if he can't be proud... at least... he's still my son."
He pointed at Rael, who was still standing straight in the doorway.
Rael smiled faintly.
"Yes... still your son... But do you know who I really am?" he thought to himself, enduring the pain.
silence...